Latest Comments for Down and Out on http://www.onthemedia.org/http://www.onthemedia.org/story/225945-down-and-out/Latest Comments for Down and Out on http://www.onthemedia.org/en-usSun, 29 Jul 2012 15:15:34 -0400600cleanComment #371921 on Down and Out
http://www.onthemedia.org/story/225945-down-and-out/#comment371921Senator George McGovern provided the biggest disservice to both himself and Senator Thomas Eagleton by "deselecting" McGovern's first vice-presidential candidate. Sargent Shriver was a great selection but McGovern's clumsiness undermined Shriver's as well as McGovern's own candidacy.
It's hard to evaluate Eagleton's own lack of disclosure using the same yardstick we would use today. 1972 was a far different time and the stigma of mental illness- even that which has been properly addressed as it was in Tom Eagleton's case- is not much less today than it was 40 years ago- even given a "more enlightened" meda.
Indeed, Tom Eagleton did all of the RIGHT things in terms of seeking (and presumably benefiting from) treatment. What more do we want from someone who has experienced mental illness?
Additionally, the incident begs the question of how many candidates in the history of American elections have been mentally ill yet have successfully hidden their illnesses? Could we even say that, having elected presidents Nixon and Clinton, that these men had very different mental illnesses, both of which- leading up to impeachment proceedings- became known to the American people?
Had Woodrow Wilson's physical illness been known he would likely have not been allowed to serve out his term. And had FDR's physical limitations been known it is quite possible he never would have been elected in the first place!
So- these discussions cut both ways.
P.S. I wish Clark Hoyt would have mentioned the motives of his tipster source.
Stacy Harris
Publisher/Executive Editor/Media Critic
Stacy's Music Row Report
http://stacyharris.com
Sun, 29 Jul 2012 15:15:34 -0400http://www.onthemedia.org/story/225945-down-and-out/#comment371921None